Merlin VSM or Revel Performa F52


I am currently in the market for a set of 5 speakers for my new condo apartment. For my budget, the two main contenders are:

* Merlin VSM-MXe fronts + VSM-CCe center + TSM-MXe surrounds
* Revel Performa F52 fronts + C52 center + M22 surrounds

From the old system I am keeping:
* 2 Martin Logan Depth subwoofers
* Anthem Statement D1 pre/pro
* Anthem Statement A5 amp
* Denon 3910 DVD player
* home made GW12 copper speaker cables, single wire

Which set do you think is best, Merlin or Revel?
Are there any other contenders worth looking at?
Thank you
cristi

Showing 1 response by martykl

If you're happy w/ the ML subs and can get them to integrate well, I can't imagine choosing the Revels. From 50ish hz on up, the VSM strike me as damn near SOTA. Below that threshold, their performance is much more dependant on the room. The revels are finw speakers, but their primary advantage (in some rooms) is more energy in the bottom octave and a half. With subs in the system, that becomes moot. If you're going to kill the subs for 2 channel use then you have a more meaninful choice and auditioning would quickly highlight the differences between the speakers in "full range mode".

Best of luck,

Marty